Projecting USA's 4 Nations Face-Off roster

Sweden 🇸🇪/Finland 🇫🇮
United States 🇺🇸
Canada 🇨🇦

We're still seven months away from the NHL's 4 Nations Face-Off, but we figured there's no better time than the dead of the offseason to project the rosters for each country competing in the February 2025 event.

We continue our three-part series with the United States, which hasn't won a best-on-best international hockey tournament since the 1996 World Cup but will be drawing from its deepest talent pool ever.

Each team unveiled six players in late June; those names are bolded in the tables below. Teams will carry 23 total players - 20 skaters and three goalies.

Toughest omissions: Kyle Connor, Patrick Kane, Matt Boldy, Brock Boeser, Alex Tuch, Alex DeBrincat, Cole Caufield

Our no-brainer picks were the top-six guys, plus Miller and Guentzel. Larkin and Thompson were pretty easy to slot in, too. That left three tough calls, but we like what each remaining player adds to a diverse and deep forward group.

Kreider brings a net-front presence and leadership. Keller offers a crafty puck-possession game. And Trocheck, fresh off a phenomenal postseason for the Rangers, is a gamer who can do a little bit of everything in all game states. Taking another reliable center in Trocheck brings flexibility; the USA can shift a world-class playmaker like Eichel or Hughes to the wing on Matthews' line.

We have seven tough omissions here. Kane and Connor were particularly difficult to exclude given Connor can score at will and Kane is arguably the greatest American player ever. We wonder if Connor is ultimately left off the team due to his defensive deficiencies and if Kane's deemed too far past his prime.

The caveat: Kane can kill any debate by flourishing during his first full season in Detroit. He showed flashes of brilliance in 50 games with the Red Wings last season and is undoubtedly getting used to playing with a resurfaced hip.

Toughest omissions: Luke Hughes, Noah Hanifin, Seth Jones, John Carlson

The USA's blue line could be the tournament's best, with offensive dynamos like Quinn Hughes and Fox perfectly complementing defensive stalwarts McAvoy and Slavin. Head coach Mike Sullivan must be salivating at the possibilities.

It's possible Luke Hughes takes a big step in the first half of 2024-25 and plays his way onto this team. We omitted him for now, though, instead choosing Sanderson and Werenski - two fellow lefties with mature games. Sanderson's tremendous skating and long reach put him ahead of Werenski.

Faber's inclusion may surprise some, but the 21-year-old thrived last season while playing 25 minutes a night for the Wild. He challenged Connor Bedard for the Calder Trophy, finishing second in voting. And remember, Minnesota general manager Bill Guerin is running this American squad.

Toughest omission: Jake Oettinger

Hellebuyck won the 2023-24 Vezina Trophy, Demko was the runner-up, and Swayman finished seventh in voting (despite appearing in only 44 games). All three are worthy of the starting gig. We've got Hellebuyck, the most decorated and experienced of the three, in the No. 1 position at the moment.

Oettinger, a 2017 first-rounder with untapped potential, has a shot at a spot. A dominant stretch of hockey or injury to somebody opens the door.

What should scare other countries: These U.S. netminders are relatively young. Hellebuyck's 31, Demko's 28, and the other two are 25. There's a decent chance Swayman and Oettinger are partners at the 2030 Olympics.